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ANCIENT GREEK BELL KRATER (Height: 12 5/8 inches   Width: 12 3/4 inches) Apulia, c. mid 4^th Century BC.

Magna Graecia (Apulia), c. 350 BC: Terracotta red-figure painted wine mixing bowl standing on a pedestal foot. Side A bears a dancing maenad wearing a flowing chiton, holding a patera and dancing with a nude satyr (note his beard, pointed ears, and tail) playing a tambourine and holding a staff with a palmette finial. Two standing young men on the reverse (side B) wear himations with black borders. The lower border contains a Greek key pattern, while a reverse laurel band encircles the outer lip of the krater. Areas of calcified surface deposits on the interior and on the underside of the base. The handles are squared off. Kraters would be used for mixing water and wine during a Greek banquet or meal. Minor rim chip and some paint loss on the handles, otherwise intact, excellent condition without repair or over-painting !

Provenance: ex Harvey Sarner collection, acquired in 1982 from Royal Athena Gallery, London. Sarner (1934-2007), Palm Springs, CA was a8 doctor, lawyer, philanthropist, and author of Rescue in Albania.